Teacher accused of duct-taping students

Allegation that Facebook posting featured students with mouths taped

A referee is going to hear the case of a northeast Ohio teacher who may be fired over an allegation that she posted a Facebook photo of her students with their mouths covered with duct tape.

The Akron Public Schools Board of Education is trying to fire Melissa Cairns, a middle-school math teacher. The Akron Beacon Journal reports that the teachers' union on Tuesday filed a request for a referee, who will then make a recommendation to the school board.

The district says the photo, posted on Cairn's personal Facebook page, showed some of her students with duct tape across their mouths. The caption read: "Finally found a way to get them to be quiet!!!"

Cairns told WEWS-TV that posting the photo was "stupid and not well thought out."

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